If you have a virus on your computer or laptop, the main thing to do is not to panic! At PC-Dial-A-Fix, we have a team who are professionals when it comes to computer virus removal in Bristol. Call us today and we will be able to arrange the soonest time possible, for us to take a look at your computer.
A computer virus is a software program designed to replicate itself and spread to other machines. In most cases, the program is often referred to as ‘malicious’, meaning that its purpose is to cause the computer to malfunction in some sort of way. There are many different computer viruses out there that are designed to track lots of different information from a variety of people, whether it be to gather bank details, remove data or to make the system crash.
Find out more about the importance of unique passwords and how they can help reduce the risk of getting hacked with PC Dial a Fix.
Signs Your Computer May Have a Virus
If your computer has been acting strangely, it might be a sign that it has been infected with malicious software. One of the first indicators of a virus is a sudden slowdown in performance, where your computer system struggles to perform even basic tasks. You might also encounter intrusive pop-up ads or unusual browser behaviour, such as being redirected to unknown websites or noticing unexpected changes to your homepage.
Additionally, an infected computer may crash frequently or freeze without explanation, which can point to a virus interfering with your operating system. Files or apps you don’t recognise appearing on your device could also indicate malicious programs at work. In some cases, high network activity or outgoing connections you didn’t authorise might signal that the virus is spreading or sending out data. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to act quickly by running a virus scan or seeking professional assistance to prevent further harm.
Types of Computer Viruses
With different people or groups attempting to retain different information from people, there is a variation of viruses out there for you to look out for. Here we have a few of the most common types of viruses that we can deal with when it comes to computer virus removal in Bristol:
- Boot Sector Virus – this type of virus has become a rare kind and was common when floppy disks were used to boot a computer. Not that the internet has evolved, the threat of the virus is now mitigated.
- Web Scripting Virus – many websites rely on codes to provide engaging content to their users, though these codes can be exploited. This can be done by a hacker simply entering the code into the comments section of a site, which in turn means that the code gets exerted into the site.
- Browser Hijacker – usually this is a less harmful type of virus where the hijacker is using this tactic to increase income from web ads. This type of virus works where they homepage of a site gets redirected to a different site.
- Resident Virus – these viruses insert themselves directly into the memory of your system and has the capability of doing many different things to your system.
- Direct Action Virus – this type of virus will only take action unless the file that has been infected is opened or executed.
These are only examples of the most common types of viruses. Our IT engineers can help with removing viruses, adware, spyware or pop-ups.
The Risks of Ignoring a Computer Virus
Failing to address a computer virus promptly can lead to serious consequences, both for your data and your device. Many viruses are designed to steal sensitive information, such as personal details, passwords, or financial data, leaving you vulnerable to identity theft or fraud. Beyond data theft, viruses can also corrupt your operating system, leading to permanent loss of files or even rendering your computer system inoperable.
If left unchecked, a virus on one device can spread to others, including mobile devices or shared networks, causing widespread disruption. Ignoring the issue also leaves your system vulnerable to new and emerging threats, as viruses often exploit security gaps to cause further damage. Over time, the cost of repairs or replacements can far exceed the effort it would take to remove the virus early. By taking action quickly, you can protect your system, safeguard your data, and prevent the virus from causing extensive damage.
Our Virus Removal Process
Diagnosis and Isolation:
We start by diagnosing your computer to identify the virus and its impact. To prevent further damage, we restart your computer in safe mode, isolating the virus for effective removal.
Virus Removal and Optimisation:
Using advanced security software, we scan your system to detect and remove all malicious software. For stubborn threats, we manually remove them, clear temporary files, and ensure your antivirus software is updated for ongoing protection.
Prevention and Final Check:
Once your computer is virus-free, we optimise its performance and provide guidance on avoiding future infections. Finally, we check that your system boots smoothly and is fully secure.
FAQs
Computer viruses are self producing programs which use various methods of transmission in order to spread infection from computer to computer. They tend to be spread through emails, sharing files, using other peoples’ discs or USBs.
Everyday thousands of new viruses, Trojans and worms are created everyday and sometimes even the best antivirus software in the world can’t protect your computer from being infected. There are a few common ways that this can happen including clicking on pop-up ads which contain Trojans, opening malicious email attachments, downloading viruses from file sharing programs, your anti virus software is up to date or that your system was infected with malware before installing anti virus software.
Once you have a virus on your computer, it may attack your antivirus software and stop it from working properly. In these cases the virus should be removed manually, at PC-Dial-a-Fix we provide a virus removal service and can remove these threats for you whilst maintaining the folders and files on your computer.
In order to prevent the spread of computer viruses and worms, at PC-Dial-a-Fix we recommend that you have an antivirus software installed onto your computer. There’s plenty of antivirus software options out there and at PC-Dial-a-Fix we can help you find a program to suit your requirements.
Get in Touch for Computer Virus Removal Today!
When faced with any kind of computer virus in Bristol, you can be assured that our team of professionals will be able to help with whatever solution you need. We can remove computer viruses and provide malware protection for any device. Call us now for any of your enquiries.
